articles | Fall Spectacular 2004
Fall Spectacular 2004
Oct 27 2004
Author: Kim Lansidel
A radiant exuberance was in the air in Wenatchee, WA as exhibitors arrived for our last 2004 Washington Reining Horse Association Show (WRHA). “The Wenatchee Fall Spectacular Futurity” takes place on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountain range in Washington, where Wenatchee is well known throughout the world for its apples. The 2004 Fall Spectacular matched our previous record of 530 runs from last fall. But, there was a record number of stalls issued and with $24,000 paid out and all those entries the office was busy all weekend long. The trails and surrounding mountains also invited participants to take a break from the fast paced world of showing and life it’s self and hit the trails to the top of the nearby range to get a view of the breathtaking valley that encompasses Wenatchee.
Events over the weekend included a “Welcome” party, a BBQ fit for a “Reining King” and a costume class for the Future Reiners of America. We all needed to go home and ride a few extra hours from all the food and the CANDY in the office! (OK, a few kids, one of which I claim, overindulged themselves – literal head dives into the candy bin looking for the prize piece). The office was decorated for the festive Holiday season and the kids had their own table to go color and fill themselves with apple juice and crackers. Jon and Norma Sather, who own Lean With Me, also donated some apples for participants to gobble and enjoy.
Some important people who helped put this show together are; Matt Livengood; Alayne Blickle who gathered volunteers; our show managers, Brian Huber and Cindy McKinzie; Jeff Lansidel for running the office; our show committee chairman Cathy Martin; Julie Daviscourt; our SUPERB announcer Bob Garrett, gate manager Joelle Barker; Murna Huber; the WRHYA Youth group for all the goodies and great auction prizes; and all the scribes who donated their time and penmanship.
We were honored with the presence of the NRHA past President Brian Dygart and Sue Hart of Michigan to judge our Fall show this year. They did a great job and we appreciated their efforts for making this a successful show.
The Fall Spectacular Futurity
The all important Futurity classes were held Saturday night (meanwhile we were indulging ourselves in the scrumptious BBQ). A deeply competitive class of 19 in both our NRHA Open Futurity and Intermediate Open and 6 entries in the NRHA Non Pro gave the spectators a taste of some quality runs and plus one maneuvers.
Finishing up with square spins and long stops and a compounded winning score of 148 in the NRHA Open and Intermediate Open was Michael Helsen for owner Bruce Pinkerton of Moses Lake, WA on Chic This. The mare is by Chic Please and out of a Hollywood Dun It mare named Miss Day Glo Dun It. Mike and his wife Inger run a very successful training operation in Auburn, WA at Still Water Stables owned by Steve Feldman. Second was Darren Stancik on Smart Chica Whiz for Lee Dick with a 147 and third was David Duquette on Leokie Chex for Randi La Pierre.
There was a “spin out and slide down” to decide this year’s winner in the NRHA Non Pro Futurity class.
Stephanie King traveled with her father George King from Idaho Falls to put Extra Pep N Chex to the test. Stephanie King had a run off against Home Run Chic with Dean Maldonado of Raven Farms at the reins. Stephanie asked for the win and her horse delivered. A Lawson and check for $1,124.44 was awarded to Stephanie and Dean received $874.56. More Trophy Winners
Gloria Woods asked her mare Shining Design to perform some ground breaking stops and she delivered catapulting her to a win in both the NRHA Non Pro and NRHA Intermediate Non Pro. The mare is by the NRHA million dollar sire Shining Spark and is out of a Fritz Command daughter Ruby Command who is out of the great mare, Nite Nite Tucker. Gloria and Shining Design put together a 72 1/2 run. They have worked closely with trainer Tom St. Hilaire from Oregon – Kudos! Second in both classes was another client of Tom’s, NQH Little Jac with Amy Morisse on board.
Meanwhile, William Shobe, who also tied with Amy in the NRHA Intermediate Non Pro Class, took his mount, Present By Chic into the winner circle in the NRHA Limited Non Pro Class. There was another tie for second with Howard Mann on Whiz N Hollywood and Barbara Morton on Gatamuffet.
Darren Stancik on Cee A Chocolate Chic for owner Lee Dick of Bainbridge Island, WA. won the NRHA Open class with $645.24 and they posted a huge 148. These two together have produced some of the biggest runs we have had all year and are the leading money earning duo with our four show series. Coming in a close second were two teams: Travis Wigen on Double Decked Chex for Jack and Karen Patton and Jerry Fowler on Whizard Black Jac. Each team took home 445.97.
Our NRHA Limited Open class was won by Slidin Jac and Sema Cohen of Auburn, WA and she was second to Travis Wigen in the NRHA Intermediate Open. We would like to take this moment to wish Travis and his wife Melissa “Congratulations” on the upcoming birth of their daughter.
The NRHA youth 13 and under was captured by Ryan McKinzie for her parents Cindy and George McKinzie in their hometown turf of Wenatchee. Dancing With Cows and Ryan’s quality maneuvers totaled for a score of 72 ½. The pair posted TWO plus ones – one for each spin! Yaaaahoooo!
The NRHA youth 14 -18 first place finisher was Frederick Robinson of Bend, Oregon. He rode his uniquely beautifully colored buckskin gelding, JD Over Ice.
It was once again standing room only for our Future Reiners of America class. We had a huge class of 12 entries and had Mini Mouse, a couple princesses, Zorro, a few cowboys, a baby, a unicorn, and a fairy upon a unicorn. Bob, the announcer, interview each child personally in the ring andthen they get a chance to put their mounts to the test with backing, spinning or a lope down and stop – whatever they are capable of performing. There is heart-warming laughter, giggles and screams for accomplishments. It has been great to see how these kids have grown and changed throughout the season. We look forward to seeing a few of these faces graduating into the big league youth classes next year.
Also coming from Oregon was Libby Metz, who again found her way back into the winner circle in our NRHA Rookie class of 32 entries. She skillfully put Lena Nuff through her maneuvers to post a winning run of 71. Libby is gratefully to Tom St. Hilaire for all his help in her achieving success inside the show ring.
NRHA Novice Horse Open was won by Christian Rammerstorfer on Slide N Chic, who is a co-owner with Joe Reith of Slide N Chic. Christian is still teaching down in Oregon and holds a P.H.D. in Equine Nutrition. He won $597.49 and posted two plus one’s for each spin and another put another Morrison on the shelf with this nice stallion.
Rounding out our show was the NRHA $1000 added Novice Horse Non Pro class. NQH Little Jac put on a show and added a few more dollars to his already astounding earnings with his new rider on board – Amy Morisse of Oregon. The team put an additional $599.50 from this class on the earnings list and a Morrison for Amy to covet.
More thanks goes out to our ever present “Memory Capturers”. Raindancer video of Montana, which is wonderfully owned and ran by Dan and Rainy Browning, was again an important ingredient in the success of the WRHA shows throughout the year.
Cheryl James, our show photographer, is also another prominent face and part to the entire atmosphere here at the WRHA shows. She has done a great job helping to contribute to our Reiner articles and competitors walls!
Essential to every show is sponsors! Here is a partial list: Continental Dirt contractors, Inc. and the McCann family, Fleek Quarter horses, Rhodes River Ranch, CDR Farms, Mark and Julie Daviscourt, Tina Peterson, Three Peaks Ranch, Slide By Farms (Steve and Vicki Sandvig),McKinzie Quarter horses, B&B Residential care and the Shobe family, Timberland Homes, Peoples Bank, Canton Ranches, R&D plumbing, EH Construction, Lucky Eagle Casino, Double H Non Pros, Precision Images, Reber Ranch…Please visit our website for a complete list of sponsors and links to their websites www.wrha.net.
The WRHA would like to thank one and all for the time, effort and long hours of dedication which have helped to escalate our shows to the quality and fun they have become. Come visit one of our shows or our website at www.wrha.net for more information.